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Re: Opening new windows

for

From: Mark Magennis
Date: Feb 8, 2005 7:44AM

> I understand the opening of new windows without announcing
> them can be a problem for those using screen readers.

True, and like Patrick, I have witnessed many new users having problems
with spawned windows and I'm not just talking about screen reader users.
Less computer-savvy sighted users can also have problems with multiple
windows if they don't realise they are in a new one.

But how about this direct quote from a website user test we conducted
yesterday with a blind user using the JAWS screen reader: "I would
prefer the downloaded documents to open in a new browser window". Note
that this user is very experienced and tech-savvy and he is talking
specifically about "download documents".

So there are always conflicting user preferences. One answer is to
include the statement "(opens in a new window)" as part of the link text
(along with "PDF 168KB" and other useful information as appropriate).
This reduces the problem but may still cause problems for newbies. Even
though they now know they are in a new window, they may still have
problems negotiating their way back. But then you come into the
territory of how much can you reasonably expect users to be able to
handle on their computers - "the spiny topic of user education" as
Patrick puts it. Spiny indeed. I retire from the conversation at this
point :-{

Mark

Dr. Mark Magennis
Director of the Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT)
National Council for the Blind of Ireland
Whitworth Road, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland

<EMAIL REMOVED> tel: +353 (0)71 914 7464